The Banana Republic Rewards Mastercard®*The information for the Banana Republic Rewards Mastercard® has been collected independently by Blueprint. The card details on this page have not been reviewed or provided by the card issuer. earns solid rewards for brand loyalists, but it’s not a good fit for other types of purchases.
About the Banana Republic Rewards Mastercard
The Banana Republic Rewards Mastercard has a strong rewards rate for brand purchases, offering 5 points per $1 spent at Gap, Banana Republic, Old Navy, and Athleta and 1 point per $1 on all other Mastercard purchases. But with lower rewards on all other purchases, it’s not the most rewarding card for those looking to maximize returns on everyday spending.
Like most co-branded credit cards, the Banana Republic Mastercard comes with benefits tailored to brand loyalists. In addition to an elevated rewards rate at Banana Republic and its sibling brands, cardholders get 20% off the first purchase at Banana Republic and perks like free expedited shipping on orders of $50 or more, early access to select sales quarterly bonus points when you make purchases at Banana Republic brands; up to 2,000 bonus points annually when you shop at two or more family brands. The card also doesn’t charge an annual fee.
On the downside, the Banana Republic Mastercard has a steep 30.99% variable APR, so if you ever need to carry a balance, it will cost you. Your points have limited redemption options too. You can only redeem them at Banana Republic or partner stores or donate to select charities. If you’re seeking a card that will give you more flexible rewards, this one isn’t it.
Frequent shoppers at Banana Republic, Gap, Old Navy and Athleta might be able to eke some value out of this card, thanks to its high rewards rate on brand-specific purchases and benefits, but in general, the Banana Republic Mastercard falls short of other rewards credit cards.
Banana Republic Rewards Mastercard basics
- Annual fee: $0.
- Welcome bonus: 20% off the first purchase at Banana Republic.
- Rewards: 5 points per $1 spent at Gap, Banana Republic, Old Navy, and Athleta and 1 point per $1 on all other Mastercard purchases.
- APR: 30.99% variable APR.
- Other perks and benefits: Free fast shipping on online orders over $50 from Banana Republic family brands; early access to select sales; quarterly bonus points when you make qualifying family brand purchases; up to 2,000 annual bonus points when you shop at two or more family brands.
- Does the issuer offer a preapproval tool? No.
- Recommended credit score: Good.
Banana Republic Rewards Mastercard basics
Banana Republic Mastercard rewards
The Banana Republic Mastercard is designed with frequent shoppers in mind, drawing in cardholders with 20% off the first purchase at Banana Republic. You’ll earn 5 points per $1 spent at Gap, Banana Republic, Old Navy, and Athleta and 1 point per $1 on all other Mastercard purchases.
If you do quite a bit of shopping at Banana Republic’s family of brands, this might result in a solid pool of rewards over time. But for most cardholders, the relatively low rewards rate means it will be difficult to earn significant returns.
Luckily, there are a few other ways cardholders can earn points. First, you can earn bonus points each quarter that you make a purchase at any of the family brands, based on your status in the rewards program. Core members earn 125 points, Enthusiast members earn 250 points and Icon members earn 500 points. Current qualification for each tier of membership is as follows:
- Core: No minimum qualifying purchases.
- Enthusiast: Between $500 and $999 in qualifying purchases at Gap, Old Navy, Banana Republic, or Athleta.
- Icon: At least $1,000 in qualifying purchases at Gap brands.
When you sign up and are approved for a Banana Republic card, you will automatically enter the program at Enthusiast level through the next calendar year.
In addition, cardholders can earn annual bonus points by shopping at multiple brands in the Banana Republic family. Shopping at two brands will earn you 500 bonus points, three brands earns 1,000 points and four brands earns 2,000 points.
Every 100 points can be redeemed for $1 at any of the family brand stores. To redeem points, just provide the phone number or email address associated with your account at checkout. Alternatively, you can donate your points to select charities via your online account.
Banana Republic Mastercard rewards potential
Using government data and other publicly available information, we estimate that a household in the U.S. that would be in the market for this card has an annual income of $84,352 and $25,087 in expenses they are likely to be able to charge to a credit card.
Of that $25,087, we estimate the average consumer spends about $1,300 per year on clothing. So even if you were able to do all your clothes shopping at Banana Republic family stores, the rewards potential on this card is low:
- $1,300 x 5 points per $1 = 6,500 points (worth $65).
- $23,787 x 1 point per $1 = 23,787 points (worth $237.87).
- Total annual rewards = 30,287 points or $302.87.
Banana Republic Mastercard APR
The Banana Republic Mastercard currently has a 30.99% variable APR. This is pretty high, even for a store credit card. If you want to avoid significant interest charges, you should strive to pay your monthly balance in full whenever possible.
Banana Republic Mastercard pros
- High rewards rate at multiple stores: The Banana Republic Mastercard earns elevated rewards at all of its family brands, which includes Old Navy, Gap and Athleta in addition to Banana Republic, making it more rewarding than the average store card.
- Discount on first purchase: You’ll get 20% off the first purchase at Banana Republic.
- Benefits for frequent shoppers: The Banana Republic Mastercard comes with perks like free fast shipping on online orders over $50, early access to select sales and other exclusive bonus point offers.
Banana Republic Mastercard cons
- High APR: The Banana Republic Mastercard charges a steep 30.99% variable APR, making it pricey to carry a balance.
- Low rewards rate on out of store purchases: All non-family brand purchases earn lower rewards, making it difficult to accrue rewards on everyday items.
- No introductory APRs: This card doesn’t come with any sort of intro APR on new purchases or balance transfers, so if you need to pay off a purchase over time or consolidate debt, this isn’t the card for you.
How the Banana Republic Rewards Mastercard compares to other rewards cards
Banana Republic Mastercard vs. Navyist Rewards Mastercard®*The information for the Navyist Rewards Mastercard® has been collected independently by Blueprint. The card details on this page have not been reviewed or provided by the card issuer.
If the Banana Republic Mastercard appeals to you because of the upfront discount, you might be better off with the Navyist Rewards Mastercard. Not only does the Navyist card offer the same ongoing rewards rate at the Gap family of brands, but it offers a higher introductory offer of 30% off the first purchase at Old Navy. You’ll still earn 5 points per $1 spent at Gap, Banana Republic, Old Navy and Athleta and 1 point per $1 on all other Mastercard purchases.
Banana Republic Mastercard vs. Prime Visa*The information for the Prime Visa has been collected independently by Blueprint. The card details on this page have not been reviewed or provided by the card issuer.
The Amazon Prime Visa card is a great choice for frequent shoppers, not only because it can offer rewards when you shop online for all kinds of products, but because it also offers a higher rewards rate on non-brand purchases. Cardholders earn 5% back at Amazon.com, Amazon Fresh and Whole Foods Market with an eligible Prime membership, 5% back on travel booked through Chase, 2% back at gas stations, restaurants, and on local transit and commuting (including rideshare), and 1% back on all other purchases.
Banana Republic Mastercard vs. Citi Double Cash® Card*The information for the Citi Double Cash® Card has been collected independently by Blueprint. The card details on this page have not been reviewed or provided by the card issuer.
For a more flexible rewards card option, consider the Citi Double Cash® Card*The information for the Citi Double Cash® Card has been collected independently by Blueprint. The card details on this page have not been reviewed or provided by the card issuer.. Unlike the Banana Republic card, the Double Cash earns a flat rewards rate of 2% cash back on purchases — 1% when purchases are made and another 1% when they’re paid off, plus, for a limited time, 5% total cash back on hotel, car rentals and attractions booked on the Citi Travel℠ portal through 12/31/24. Rewards are earned as cash back but can also be converted to Citi ThankYou® points making them much less limiting.
Should I get the Banana Republic Rewards Mastercard?
The Banana Republic Mastercard is a good choice only for the highest spenders at Banana Republic and other Gap family brands, as its rewards rate on non-brand purchases is not impressive. Additionally, rewards can only be redeemed in stores or for select charity donations. Still, perks like free fast shipping on qualifying online orders and exclusive access to sales might be worth it for the most frequent shoppers.
Banana Republic Rewards Mastercard summary
| BANANA REPUBLIC REWARDS MASTERCARD DETAILS | |
|---|---|
Annual fee | $0 |
Rewards | 5 points per $1 spent at Gap, Banana Republic, Old Navy, and Athleta and 1 point per $1 on all other Mastercard purchases |
APR | 30.99% variable APR |
Foreign transaction fees | 3% of each transaction in U.S. dollars |
Major perks and benefits | Free fast shipping on online orders over $50; quarterly bonus points based on qualifying purchases; annual family brand bonus, early access to select sales |
Frequently asked questions (FAQs)
Yes, you can use your Banana Republic Mastercard anywhere Mastercard is accepted.
That depends on how often you shop at Banana Republic and other Gap brands. Your rewards can only be redeemed in stores or for select charity donations, so you’ll need to shop frequently to make it worthwhile.
Yes, when you first sign up for the Banana Republic Mastercard, you’ll get 20% off the first purchase at Banana Republic.
No, you must pay your credit card bill online, over the phone, or by mail. In-store payments are not accepted.
*The information for the Banana Republic Rewards Mastercard®, Citi Double Cash® Card, Navyist Rewards Mastercard® and Prime Visa has been collected independently by Blueprint.The card details on this page have not been reviewed or provided by the card issuer.
